We’ve reached the halfway point of 2017 so that means it’s time to issue the Solzy Awards for Film in 2017 So Far.

The two films that really stand out to me at this point in the year are The Big Sick and Baby Driver.  I started writing this article prior to seeing The Beguiled when it opened in Chicago on Friday.  I debated a lot to myself about whether or not I should include the films that played during the Chicago Critics Film Festival but haven’t been released yet.  The answer for now is no though I would label films like Lucky, Columbus, The Incredible Jessica James, Menashe, and A Ghost Story as honorable mentions for this list as a result.

As is the case in prior years, any films released in 2016 for an Oscar qualifying run but don’t expand to Chicago until after the new year don’t qualify, such as Patriots Day.  I’ll narrow the best films down to my top ten at the end of the year but for now, please enjoy The Solzy Awards for Film in 2017 So Far.

The Best Films of 2017 So Far
The Big Sick
Baby Driver
The Beguiled
The Lego Batman Movie
A United Kingdom
Logan
Beauty and the Beast
Kong: Skull Island
Colossal
Their Finest
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The Hero
Band Aid
Wonder Woman
Megan Leavey
Beatriz at Dinner

For my year-end awards, I’ll pick just one person for each category but for right now, I’m picking my favorite performances so far.  I’ll also separate between comedy and drama for the Solzy Awards.

Best Comedy Movies
The Big Sick
Colossal
Their Finest
Band Aid

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Sam Elliott, The Hero
Bryan Cranston, Wakefield
Kumail Nanjiani, The Big Sick
Ansel Elgort, Baby Driver

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Gal Gadot, Wonder Woman
Salma Hayek, Beatriz at Dinner
Nicole Kidman, The Beguiled
Zoe Kazan, The Big Sick

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Ray Romano, The Big Sick
John Lithgow, Beatriz at Dinner
Jon Hamm, Baby Driver

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Kirsten Dunst, The Beguiled

Best Director
Michael Showalter, The Big Sick
Edgar Wright, Baby Driver
Sofia Coppola, The Beguiled

Best Documentary
The Last Laugh
Score: A Film Music Documentary
Look & See: A Portrait of Wendell Berry

Best Comic Book Movie
Logan
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Wonder Woman

Best Animated Feature
The Lego Batman Movie

Best Musical
Beauty and the Beast

Given that I am a member of the Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle, I’ll be voting for all of the other categories that I haven’t awarded in the past come the end of the year.